Get Social Security Disability

The Social Security Administration (SSA) pays disability benefits to American adults and children deemed to suffer from long-term disability. The law states that disabilities must be the result of a medical condition that has prevented, or will prevent, you from working for a year or that will ultimately end in death. Learn how to determine your eligibility, locate necessary forms and applications, and apply for your child or in another English-speaking country.

Steps

Determining if You're Eligible for Benefits

  1. Know the basic requirements. In order to receive Social Security disability benefits as an adult, you must be 18 years of age or older, and permanently residing in an American state or territory.
  2. Figure out your work credits. Generally, to be eligible for benefits, you must have worked in the recent past and earned a certain amount. To determine whether people have worked enough to meet the requirements, the SSA requires people to earn a certain number of work credits. Work credits are essentially income that is assigned a value.[1]
    • In general, you must have accumulated 40 work credits (20 in the past 10 years) to be eligible for disability. In 2015, every $1,220 earned in wages or self-employment income counts as one credit, and you may accrue up to four credits per year. When you have earned $4,880 for the year, you have earned your four credits.SSA has some exceptions and different rules for younger workers. Click here for more information.
  3. Understand the exceptions if you're a younger worker. The SSA has some exceptions and different rules for younger workers. For example, if you become disabled before you turn 24, you will qualify for disability if you have 6 work credits earned in the past three years. If you are under 62, click here for work credit requirements.[2]
    • If you become disabled between the ages of 24 and 31, you will need to have credits for at least half the years between age 21 and when you become disabled. For example, if you become disabled at age 27, you will need credits for 3 years (27 - 21 = 6 and then 6 divided by 2 for half of the years).
  4. Know what SSA defines as disabled. In order for you to qualify as disabled, SSA runs your case through a 5-step checklist. Overall, the condition must be long-term (lasting more than 12 months or resulting in death), prevent you from doing the work you did before, and prevent you from adjusting to another form of work.[3] Here are the specific questions SSA uses to evaluate your case:
    • Are you working? If you are working in 2014 and making $1,070/month or more, you are not eligible.
    • Is your condition severe? In order for a condition to be classified as severe, it must interfere with work-related activities.
    • Is your condition on the list of disabling conditions? SSA keeps a list of disabling conditions that are considered severe enough to warrant a disability claim. If your condition is not on the list, SSA will evaluate whether its level of severity matches that of the listed conditions. This is done on a case-by-case basis, however, the condition must be permanent or expected to result in death, and must prevent you from working.
    • Can you perform the work you did previously? In order to qualify as disabled, your condition must prevent you from doing your current job. Social Security will only pay benefits for people who are completely disabled, so if you are still able to work part time at your current job, you cannot be paid disability.
    • Can you do any other sort of work? If you can't maintain your current job, SSA will evaluate whether you can adjust to new work, accounting for factors such as medical conditions, age, education, past work experience and transferable skills. If you cannot adjust to a new job, you qualify as disabled. In order to receive disability benefits, you must not be able to work at all and if you want to qualify for benefits, you cannot make income from working. This includes doing freelance work or working occasionally.
  5. Check the SSA's list of Compassionate Allowances. For these conditions, disability benefits are approved as soon as a diagnosis is confirmed, with no waiting period for benefits.[4] The illnesses on this list are generally terminal, and include conditions such as acute leukemia, Lou Gehrig's Disease (ALS), and inoperable cancers.
  6. Be aware of special situations. SSA will assess benefits differently for those who are visually impaired, disabled widows or widowers (cannot apply online), wounded warriors (go here) and disabled children (see section below).
    • For example, if you are blind, SSA does not require you to have as many work credits as they normally would (instead of 40, you must have 20 if you are over the age of 31).
  7. Prepare for the waiting period. Unless your condition is listed as a Compassionate Allowance, you'll probably have to wait five full calendar months to being receiving benefits. Most people see their first check come in at the beginning of the sixth month after the disability began. This waiting period is in place to insure that only applicants suffering from long-term disability, and not short-term or partial disability, receive benefits.
    • If, after you apply for disability benefits but before you have been accepted, you are diagnosed with a condition that qualifies as a compassionate allowance condition, you should call your local Social Security office and inform them of the change. It is likely that you will have to provide documentation of your new condition and go into the office in order to change your application.

Applying In-Person or on the Phone

  1. Set up an appointment. Call your local Social Security Administration office, or call 800-772-1213 Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern time, for a phone or office appointment. Call ahead. Most offices schedule disability appointments weeks or even months out, so call as soon as possible.[5]
    • If you are hearing impaired, call 800-325-0778.
  2. Go to your appointment. At your appointment, someone will help you fill out your application and tell you what the next steps for you are. You do not need to do anything to prepare for your appointment, but make sure that you bring your drivers license or another form of identification to the appointment.[5]

Applying Online (Adult)

  1. Start your claim immediately. The up-side to applying online versus on the phone or in person is that you can start your application process immediately, without waiting for an appointment. Click here to get started.
  2. Review the Adult Disability Checklist. This checklist lays out the things you'll need to submit a disability application. Print out the PDF version and check off items as you collect them. Collecting all the materials may take a few weeks, so start a folder or binder to store everything. In order to start your application, you'll need the following information:
    • Basic information: name, date of birth, social security number, address, and all medication you are taking.
    • You will also information on family members including: the social security numbers of everyone who lives in your household and proof of marriage if applicable.
  3. Gather information for the Adult Disability Application. In order to start your application, you'll need the following forms and information:
    • Military service discharge (Form DD 214) for all periods of active duty.
    • W-2 Forms (or IRS 1040 and Schedules C and SE, if self-employed) for the last year.
    • The Social Security numbers of your spouse and minor children.
    • Checking or savings account number and bank routing number, if you wish to receive benefits through direct deposit.
  4. Gather information for the Adult Disability Report. This is a compilation of your medical records that show your disability and allows the SSA to make a determination as to whether you are disabled under the guidelines. You may have to call the offices of your medical providers and request records. Be aware that some offices charge a small service fee for the labor and materials required to copy and send your records. You'll need the following information:[6]
    • The name, address and phone number of someone knowledgeable about your condition, whom SSA can contact regarding your claim. The doctor who made your diagnosis, oversees your treatment or first treated your injury could be a potential candidate for this, but may cost you a small fee.
    • The names, addresses, phone numbers, patient ID numbers and dates of treatment for all doctors, hospitals and clinics. You may want to obtain and refer to your medical records for this information, so that it's as correct as possible.
    • The names of medications you're taking, as well as the dosage and who prescribed them. You can obtain this information using the pharmacy label on your medicine bottles. If you're currently off a medication that's relevant to your claim, contact your doctor's office for a record of the prescription.
    • The names and dates of medical tests and who sent you for them. If you already have copies of lab results, add them to your folder; if not, request copies from your doctor's office.
    • Information on your last 5 jobs, including type of job and dates worked. Refer to prior W-2 forms for greatest accuracy.
    • Information regarding any worker's compensation claims or insurance claims you've filed. Have the claim number, and the name, address and phone number of the insurance company.
  5. Gather documents that SSA may request later. As your application goes on, SSA may request copies of your birth certificate, or citizenship and naturalization papers. You might also need to provide educational transcripts and proof of a high school diploma or college degree.
  6. Fill out the Online Disability Benefit Application. You can start the application here. The process should take between 10 and 30 minutes, but don't worry, you can sign out of the application and return to it later. You'll need to:[7]
    • Sign the application. Once you've answered all the questions, you'll be asked to verify the validity of your information under penalty of perjury. Sign electronically when you are sure everything is correct. Note that if you're helping someone else fill out a disability application, only the person applying for benefits can sign.
    • Prepare the documents. At the end of the application, a list of documents you need to provide to SSA will appear, as well as how to submit them. Generally, you can mail in the documents or physically take them to an SSA office; SSA will return all documents or copies unless otherwise indicated.
    • Provide your Social Security number. On a separate piece of blank paper, write down your Social Security number in large print and enclose it with your other documents. Do not alter your documents to include your Social Security number.
    • Do not mail certain documents. If you're asked to provide a foreign birth certificate, or documents issued by the Immigration and Naturalization Service or the Department of Homeland Security, do not put these documents in the mail. They can be costly to replace, if they're replaceable at all. If you're required to submit these documents, take them to your nearest SSA office and do not lose sight of them.
  7. Fill out the Adult Online Disability Report. The report can be located here and will go into more detail about the specifics of your condition. It has 7 sections: Overview, Identification, Medical, Work/Education, Remarks, Review and Submit.[8]
    • You don't have to complete the report in one sitting. If you wish to take a break, sign off and you'll be provided with a re-entry number. Write it down and use it to log back in to your saved report.
    • Use the Remarks section. This allows you to include additional information about your condition. If the online form doesn't provide enough room, write or type your remarks on a separate sheet of paper and mail it to the SSA address provided.
    • Save the receipt. After you submit the application, you'll receive a receipt that includes a copy of the entire report. Print it and save it for your records.
    • Be aware of the time limit. A page will expire if you're on it for more than 25 minutes. Be sure to save your work and avoid being automatically logged out, or your work will be lost. (You must have JavaScript enabled to receive the notification that your page has been inactive for 25 minutes.)
  8. Complete the Authorization to Disclose Information to the Social Security Administration. To process your application, SSA will ask you to sign a form allowing them to discuss your information with other parties in order to assess the validity of your claims, as well as your ability to manage benefits. Signing is voluntary, but failing to do so could prevent timely processing and result in denied or lost benefits. You can find the form here. Print it out, and mail or take it to your local SSA office when it's completed. You'll specifically need to know:
    • a few guidelines for completing the form: Fill it out and sign in blue or black ink only, before a witness. The form will be valid for 12 months from the signing date.
    • what information will be shared and what won't: Signing the form authorizes SSA to contact your friends, your family, employers and public officials regarding your condition, as well as the people involved in your medical care, education, and social services. The form authorizes SSA to re-disclose information about your case to third parties without prior written consent, except information regarding alcohol/drug abuse, mental health, developmental disability, HIV/AIDS, and educational records for a minor.
  9. Wait for a response. SSA will respond to you by mail if your application is approved. You'll be told how much money to expect and when payments will start. If you move during the application process, be sure to notify SSA of your new address.
  10. Appeal. If you're unhappy with the SSA decision regarding your application, you can appeal within 60 days of the date that you received the Notice of Decision. (SSA calculates the date of receipt as 5 days after the date of the letter, unless you can prove otherwise.) Submit your request for appeal in writing to the address indicated on your Notice of Decision.
    • Appeal online. If your application was denied for medical reasons, you can appeal online. Just make sure you have your Notice of Decision on-hand before you start. Click here to begin.
    • Know the levels of appeal. Appeals to SSA for disability benefits can potentially go through 4 levels. They are: reconsideration by someone not involved in your first application, a hearing by an administrative law judge, a review by the Appeals Council, and a Federal Court review. [9]
    • If you lose your appeal, you cannot reapply for disability benefits unless your condition changes and becomes more severe or you are diagnosed with a new condition that renders you disabled. If this situation applies to you, you may reapply for disability 60 days after your denial (either the original denial if you do not appeal the decision or the loss of the appeal if you appeal).

Applying for Benefits for a Child

  1. Know the process. Applying for Social Security benefits for a disabled child requires two submissions: an application for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and a Child Disability Report. Only the Child Disability Report can be completed online. See a fact sheet regarding Child Disability Benefits here. A list of approved child disabilities is available here. The decision will take 3 to 5 months after you submit the application.[10]
  2. Gather the information on the Child Disability Checklist. A checklist can be found here and lists the information you'll need to submit a child disability claim. Print off the list and check items off as you collect them. Collecting all the materials may take a few weeks, so start a folder or binder to store everything.[10]
    • Know what the checklist requires. You'll need to have information regarding medical care, education, social services, child care, the child's employers, birth certificate, proof of the family's current income and resources, and the names and Social Security numbers of all adults and children currently living in the household.
  3. Contact Social Security. Before you go through the work of filling out the Child Disability Report, find out whether the income and resources of the family are within the established limits. If they are, SSA will help you begin the SSI process and set up an interview. Find your local office here.
  4. Complete the Medical and School Worksheet. Click here and print out the worksheet. Fill it out as completely as you can, and set it aside for use at your SSI interview and to help you complete the Child Disability Report online.
  5. Complete the Child Disability Report. This form will detail your child's medical condition and subsequent disabilities. You can print out the PDF version here, or complete it online here. There are 10 sections: Information About the Child, Contact Information, Medical Conditions and How They Affect the Child, Medical Records, Medications, Tests, Additional Information, Education, Work History and Remarks.[10]
    • Use the Remarks section. The Remarks section is meant for you to provide any additional, pertinent information about the disability not covered in the previous sections of the report.
  6. Attend the interview. Take all the information you gathered for the Child Disability Checklist, as well as the Medical and School Worksheet and the Child Disability Report (if you did not submit online) with you. Additionally, you should bring a photo ID for identification purposes and the child’s birth certificate. If you can, have everything neatly organized in a folder or binder for easy access during the interview.
  7. Be prepared. At the interview, you'll need to discuss: The child’s medical condition, medical treatment sources and dates (including the names and addresses of doctors and hospitals), medications that the child is currently taking, and any testing the child has had.
    • The interview will last about an hour, and the SSA employee will go through your application with you, and may discuss the condition with your and the child.

Applying for Disability Benefits in Other Countries

  1. Apply for the Canadian Pension Plan. The Canadian Pension Plan (CPP) provides disability benefits to adults who contributed to the CPP while they worked, as well as children who have one parent on CPP disability. Click here for more information. The Child Disability Benefit (CDB) is available to families caring for a disabled child under the age of 18; find out more here.
  2. Apply for Disability Living Allowance in the United Kingdom. Disabled adults under the age of 65 and disabled children in the UK have access to a Disability Living Allowance (DLA). Click here to start the process.
  3. Apply for a Disability Support Pension in Australia. Australian citizens over 16 years of age who are permanently blind or unable to work for 2 years or more can apply for a Disability Support Pension. Click here for more information. Someone caring for a disabled child under 16 years of age is eligible for a Carer Allowance; go here to find out more.



Tips

  • You can help someone else prepare a disability application without being their legal representative.
  • If you're outside the US when you begin the application process, contact the nearest US SSA office, your US embassy or consulate. If you're in the Philippines, contact the Veterans Affairs Regional Office (VARO).
  • If you're more comfortable speaking in a language other than English, SSA will provide you a free interpreter.
  • You may enlist a representative to help you conduct business with SSA[11].

Warnings

  • Falsifying any information on an application for Social Security disability benefits amounts to perjury, and could result in criminal prosecution.

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://www.ssa.gov/dibplan/dqualify2.htm
  2. ↑ http://www.ssa.gov/retire2/credits3.htm
  3. ↑ http://www.socialsecurity.gov/dibplan/dqualify4.htm
  4. ↑ http://www.ssa.gov/compassionateallowances/
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 http://www.ssa.gov/dibplan/dapply.htm#sb=3
  6. ↑ http://www.socialsecurity.gov/forms/ssa-3368.pdf
  7. ↑ http://www.socialsecurity.gov/applyonline/
  8. ↑ https://secure.ssa.gov/apps6z/radr/radr-fe
  9. ↑ http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10041.html#a0=0
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 http://www.ssa.gov/applyfordisability/child.htm
  11. ↑ http://www.ssa.gov/representation/
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